Robert L. Simpson
"These are not idle thoughts and words but rather sacred obligations and promises entered into with God, the Father, as each worthy member partakes with contrite spirit and deepest reflections concerning the atoning sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.
"Show me the man, woman, or child who truly and sincerely covenants to take upon himself the name of Jesus Christ, and I will show you a person who is upright and honest in all of his dealings.
"Show me the man, woman, or child who truly commits himself to always remember, and I will show you a child of God who is without guile, one who is understanding and quick to forgive.
“Show me the man, woman or child who makes it a matter of daily and hourly endeavor to keep God’s commandments that he has given them and lives that pledge in his every act, his every word, to the very best of his ability, and I will show you one who radiates the true Spirit of Christ and who, if unwavering to the end, will inherit eternal life, which is, according to the Lord, ’the greatest of all the gifts of God.’ (D&C 14:7.)” (Conference Report, Apr. 1967, p. 68)
Dallin H. Oaks
"When the Savior taught the Nephites following his resurrection, he referred to the scriptural statement that ’ye must take upon you the name of Christ.’ He explained, ’For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.’ (3 Ne. 27:5-6.) That same teaching is repeated in a modern revelation, which adds the caution that ’if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.’ (D&C 18:25; see also Alma 5:38.)
"The Book of Mormon explains the significance of being called by the name of Jesus Christ. When the Savior showed his spirit body to the brother of Jared, he introduced himself as the Father and the Son, declaring that through his redeeming sacrifice all mankind who believed on his name should have life eternal through him, ’and they shall become my sons and my daughters.’ (Ether 3:14.) Abinadi said of those who believed in the Lord and looked to him for a remission of their sins ’that these are his seed, or they are heirs of the kingdom of God.’ (Mosiah 15:11.) He continued this explanation as follows:
"’For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed?’ (Mosiah 15:12.)
"Speaking through the prophet Alma, the Lord explained the significance of this relationship: ’For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.’ (Mosiah 26:24.)
"In these great scriptures from the Book of Mormon, we learn that those who are qualified by faith and repentance and compliance with the laws and ordinances of the gospel will have their sins borne by the Lord Jesus Christ. In spiritual and figurative terms they will become the sons and daughters of Christ, heirs to his kingdom. These are they who will be called by his name in the last day.
"According to this meaning, when we witness our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, we are signifying our commitment to do all that we can to achieve eternal life in the kingdom of our Father. We are expressing our candidacy—our determination to strive for—exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
“Those who are found worthy to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ at the last day are described in the great revelations recorded in the ninety-third and seventy-sixth sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Here the Savior revealed to Joseph Smith that in due time, if we keep the commandments of God, we can receive the ‘fulness’ of the Father. (D&C 93:19-20.) Here the Savior bears record that ’all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the [Father], and are the church of the Firstborn.’ (D&C 93:22.) ’They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things. … Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods‘ who ’shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.’ (D&C 76:55, 58, 62.) ’And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’ (John 17:3; see also D&C 88:4-5.) This is the ultimate significance of taking upon us the name of Jesus Christ.” (Conference Report, May 1985 Ensign, “Taking Upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ”)
David O. McKay
“Do we always stop to think, on that sacred Sabbath day when we meet together to partake of the sacrament, that we witness, promise, obligate ourselves, in the presence of one another, and in the presence of God, that we will do certain things?…The first: We are willing to take upon ourselves the name of the Son. In so doing we choose him as our leader and our ideal: and he is the one perfect character in all the world. Second: That we will always remember him. Not just on Sunday, but on Monday, in our daily acts, in our self-control. When our brother hurts us, we are going to try to master our feelings and not retaliate in the same spirit of anger…That’s the spirit of the Christ, and that’s what we have promised—that we will do our best to achieve these high standards of Christianity, true Christian principles. The third: We promise to ’…keep his commandments which he has given…’—tithing, fast offerings, the Word of Wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, love. The obligation of a member of the Church of Jesus Christ is great, but it is as glorious as it is great, because obedience to these principles gives life, eternal life.” (Gospel Ideals, p. 146 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 512)